Direct and Indirect Objects

Action Verbs and Direct and Indirect Objects Action verbs are sometimes accompanied by words that complete their meaning. These words are direct objects and indirect objects. A verb that has a direct object is called a transitive verb. A verb that does not have a direct object is called an instransitive verb.

Direct Objects A direct object is a noun (or a word behaving like a noun) that receives the action of a transitive verb. The direct object answers the question what or whom. A direct object is a noun (or a word behaving like a noun) that receives the action of a transitive verb. The direct object answers the question what or whom. Aidan threw a snowball. Aidan threw a snowball. What did Aidan throw? a snowball What did Aidan throw? a snowball Colin shoveled the steps Colin shoveled the steps What did Colin shovel? the steps What did Colin shovel? the steps Dusty chased the mailman. Dusty chased the mailman. Whom did Dusty chase? the mailman Whom did Dusty chase? the mailman

Indirect Objects An indirect object tells to what or to whom or for what or for whom an action is done. An indirect object often follows the verbs buy, bring, do, give, hand, offer, lend, teach, tell, play, write, send, make, and show. Determine the indirect object by rephrasing the sentence as a questions ending with to whom or for whom. An indirect object tells to what or to whom or for what or for whom an action is done. An indirect object often follows the verbs buy, bring, do, give, hand, offer, lend, teach, tell, play, write, send, make, and show. Determine the indirect object by rephrasing the sentence as a questions ending with to whom or for whom. Ciara taught Dusty a new trick. Ciara taught Dusty a new trick. Ciara taught a trick to whom? Dusty Ciara taught a trick to whom? Dusty I sent my mother some pictures. I sent my mother some pictures. Sent to whom? My mother Sent to whom? My mother The doctor gave Ciara a shot. The doctor gave Ciara a shot. The doctor gave a shot to whom? Ciara The doctor gave a shot to whom? Ciara

Object of the Preposition If the preposition to or for appears in a sentence the word that follows it is not an indirect object. It is the object of a preposition. If the preposition to or for appears in a sentence the word that follows it is not an indirect object. It is the object of a preposition.

Why does this matter in writing? Using direct and indirect objects correctly can help you give clear directions or advice when writing. Using direct and indirect objects correctly can help you give clear directions or advice when writing. If we use pronouns as the direct or indirect object we will know that we need to use objective case pronouns (stay tuned). That is why it is correct to say: He gave me and my sister a reward for finding his dog. It is incorrect to say: He gave my sister and I a reward. If we use pronouns as the direct or indirect object we will know that we need to use objective case pronouns (stay tuned). That is why it is correct to say: He gave me and my sister a reward for finding his dog. It is incorrect to say: He gave my sister and I a reward.

Be careful with linking verbs Linking Verbs do not take direct or indirect objects. Linking Verbs do not take direct or indirect objects. The word that a linking verb connects to its subject is called a subject complement. It identifies or describes the subject (tells what the subject is or is like). A subject complement can be either a predicate noun or a predicate adjective. The word that a linking verb connects to its subject is called a subject complement. It identifies or describes the subject (tells what the subject is or is like). A subject complement can be either a predicate noun or a predicate adjective. A predicate noun follows a linking verb and identifies or renames the subject. A predicate noun follows a linking verb and identifies or renames the subject. Mrs. Dale is a teacher. (teacher is the predicate noun) Mrs. Dale is a teacher. (teacher is the predicate noun) A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject. A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject. She looks happy. (happy is the predicate adjective) She looks happy. (happy is the predicate adjective)